This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-26664023

The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
MPs pay tribute to 'brilliant' Tony Benn in special debate Queen approves Tony Benn overnight vigil in Parliament's chapel
(about 2 hours later)
Deputy PM Nick Clegg has led MPs' tributes to Labour's Tony Benn, who he said was a "dedicated democrat" with inspirational passion and conviction. The Queen has granted permission for the body of Tony Benn to rest overnight in Parliament's chapel, Commons Speaker John Bercow has announced.
Labour's Harriet Harman spoke of Mr Benn's "commitment was to the historic fight against social injustice". In a short statement to MPs following a special Commons tribute session to the former Labour MP who died last week, Mr Bercow said there would be a "private, family service" for Mr Benn.
And Conservative father of the House Sir Peter Tapsell said he had been a "brilliant" public speaker. MPs, peers and parliamentary staff will then have the chance to file past his coffin and pay their respects, he said.
That eloquence had occasionally lured him towards the "wilder shores of politics", Sir Peter added. Deputy PM Nick Clegg led MPs' tributes.
MPs were taking part in a special debate dedicated to the memory of the late MP, who served in the cabinet under under Harold Wilson and James Callaghan but staged a divisive battle for the deputy leadership of the party in 1981. MPs had been taking part in a special debate dedicated to the memory of the late MP, who served in the cabinet under under Harold Wilson and James Callaghan but staged a divisive battle for the deputy leadership of the party in 1981.
Lib Dem leader Mr Clegg said he would be remembered for his "kindness, his charm, and sense of humour".Lib Dem leader Mr Clegg said he would be remembered for his "kindness, his charm, and sense of humour".
"Many of the the battles he fought were very much of their time, such as renationalisation and turning back the tide on globalisation," he said."Many of the the battles he fought were very much of their time, such as renationalisation and turning back the tide on globalisation," he said.
"Yet on so many other issues, Tony Benn was far ahead of his time. This includes his passionate commitment to protect civil liberties, promote equality and secure political reform in Britain.""Yet on so many other issues, Tony Benn was far ahead of his time. This includes his passionate commitment to protect civil liberties, promote equality and secure political reform in Britain."
"Above all else, Tony Benn was a dedicated democrat. He never forgot struggles of those who fought down the years for the right to vote, speak and be heard."Above all else, Tony Benn was a dedicated democrat. He never forgot struggles of those who fought down the years for the right to vote, speak and be heard.
"This uplifting idea to help people realise the power they have to change the world for the better will be his lasting legacy."This uplifting idea to help people realise the power they have to change the world for the better will be his lasting legacy.
"Everybody who heard Tony Benn speak, whether they admired his views or not, could not help but learn from the passion and conviction that he brought to the causes he believed in.""Everybody who heard Tony Benn speak, whether they admired his views or not, could not help but learn from the passion and conviction that he brought to the causes he believed in."
Labour deputy leader Harriet Harman said Mr Benn had a "genuine interest in people" who made time for everyone he met and was a "great family man".Labour deputy leader Harriet Harman said Mr Benn had a "genuine interest in people" who made time for everyone he met and was a "great family man".
"It was a parliamentary occasion every time Tony Benn spoke in this House," she continued."It was a parliamentary occasion every time Tony Benn spoke in this House," she continued.
"I well remember that when we saw Tony Benn on the monitor we would all stop what we were doing and rush to the chamber to listen to him."I well remember that when we saw Tony Benn on the monitor we would all stop what we were doing and rush to the chamber to listen to him.
"He was a great orator," she continued, who had been blessed with formidable intellect and great historical knowledge."He was a great orator," she continued, who had been blessed with formidable intellect and great historical knowledge.
But more than this, "he spoke out of conviction and he always spoke from the heart", she said, praising his support for the "green movement and the women's movement".But more than this, "he spoke out of conviction and he always spoke from the heart", she said, praising his support for the "green movement and the women's movement".
She concluded: "His legacy is not just to this House and to progressive politics in this country but also to the commitment taken forward by his children and his grandchildren."She concluded: "His legacy is not just to this House and to progressive politics in this country but also to the commitment taken forward by his children and his grandchildren."
Conservative MP Sir Peter Tapsell told the Commons that he was the only remaining MP who had voted in favour of the 1963 legislation which enabled Mr Benn to renounce his hereditary title and stand for re-election to the Commons. Previously members of the peerage had been banned from being MPs.Conservative MP Sir Peter Tapsell told the Commons that he was the only remaining MP who had voted in favour of the 1963 legislation which enabled Mr Benn to renounce his hereditary title and stand for re-election to the Commons. Previously members of the peerage had been banned from being MPs.
Sir Peter recalled hearing a speech at Oxford University from the newly elected Mr Benn, who became an MP aged just 25.Sir Peter recalled hearing a speech at Oxford University from the newly elected Mr Benn, who became an MP aged just 25.
"He came in full evening dress," he said. "He was strikingly handsome."He came in full evening dress," he said. "He was strikingly handsome.
"He made a stunning speech. I remember thinking to myself how am I ever going to be able to compete with that, and of course I never was able to. Very few people were ever able, as orators, to do so.""He made a stunning speech. I remember thinking to myself how am I ever going to be able to compete with that, and of course I never was able to. Very few people were ever able, as orators, to do so."
Sir Peter said he rated Mr Benn as one of the top four parliamentary debaters of the last half century, alongside Nye Bevan, Michael Foot and Enoch Powell.Sir Peter said he rated Mr Benn as one of the top four parliamentary debaters of the last half century, alongside Nye Bevan, Michael Foot and Enoch Powell.
"At his best he was spellbinding, so that listening to him one was sometimes in danger of being intellectually swept towards some of the wilder shores of politics," Sir Peter continued."At his best he was spellbinding, so that listening to him one was sometimes in danger of being intellectually swept towards some of the wilder shores of politics," Sir Peter continued.
He was a "great parliamentarian and a good man", Sir Peter said. "England will remember him."He was a "great parliamentarian and a good man", Sir Peter said. "England will remember him."
Drawing the debate to a close, Mr Benn's son Hilary, himself a Labour MP, paid tribute to his father's determination to end apartheid, abolish the death penalty, support the miners, and campaign for peace.
"He loved this place," Hilary Benn told MPs. "He loved the people who built it, those who help us in our work, he loved the debate and the argument.
"But he did not idealise Parliament. He saw it as the means to an end, to be a voice for the movements outside these walls who seek to change the world for the better, as well as being a voice for the people who send us here. That was the essence of his character."
His father had been a socialist, a non-conformist and a dissenter at heart, Mr Benn continued.
"He knew what he thought, and he was not afraid to say it. He showed constancy and courage in the face of adversity.
"Whatever the scribes and the Pharisees may have to say about his life, it is from the words and kindnesses of those whose lives he touched that we, those who loved him most, take the greatest strength.
"After all, any life that inspires so many others is a life that was well lived."